Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautiful place to visit, especially the historic town, but prices can be very high during peak visitor times. We looked for less expensive hotel stays for Niagara-on-the-Lake, with pleasant experiences in a comfortable setting.

Our top two picks are out of the town centre, in quiet locales with good highway access and primarily suitable for those guests who would be driving in. Because prices rise dramatically in the summer months it means that if you visit in April you will be able to obtain some pretty good room rates at the fancier hotels which can even be as low as a budget place in high season.

Editor's Top 5 Picks

Popular hotel a 20-minute drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake with indoor pool and restaurant

The Hilton Garden Inn is a popular and economical choice for Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's situated on York Road, adjacent to the QEW interchange and equidistant (about a 16-minute drive) from Niagara-on-the-Lake's historic town and Niagara Falls.

Guests highlighted the cleanliness of the hotel, the friendliness of the staff and many enjoyed the food at the on-site restaurant, the quiet green space out back on the patio, and the indoor pool and hot tub. Adding value are free Wi-Fi, parking, local area transportation, all-day free beverage service with hot beverages, and freshly baked cookies.

Pros

Free Wi-Fi, free parking

Numerous guests paid compliments to the excellent staff

Many praised the hotel's location near the QEW and local attractions

Many guests thought the hotel's food was excellent and delicious

Local area transportation is offered to hotel guests

Leisure amenities: indoor pool, steam room, hot tub, fitness centre

All rooms come with mini-fridges and microwaves

Cons

Some guests had difficulty locating the hotel and thought it was in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

The hotel's staff were complimented on their friendly and knowledgeable service

Several reviewers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms

Cons

A couple of guests found the hotel a little far from the main strip

Tips For Staying In Niagara-on-the-Lake

Choosing A Hotel in Niagara-On-The-Lake

Quick Summary of Most Popular AreasHeritage District: a cozy and inviting area full of restaurants and boutiquesNiagara Wine Region: a pretty vast geographical area known for fruit farms, most notably grape farms, that produce some world-class vinoQueenston: beautiful and scenic park with a lookout point across Lake Ontario where, on a clear day, you can actually see the skyline of downtown Toronto

Where to Stay in Niagara-On-The-LakeHands down the best area to stay in Niagara-On-The-Lake is in the Heritage District, which is the northeast point of the Niagara Wine Region. The Heritage District's main area is along Queen Street, which is particularly beautiful in the summer with flower gardens and potted plants. You'll find a lot of boutique shops, historical sites and numerous dining options along this walkable stretch. Parking in this area is pretty easy to find as there is street parking and public lots tucked behind, in some of the side streets (it's a tourist hot spot so paid parking of course). It's also worth noting that Queen Street is home to the Niagara Apothecary museum, the oldest apothecary in Canada.

A little about the Niagara Wine RegionIt's common for those unfamiliar with the area to confuse Niagara-On-The-Lake with the Niagara Wine Region. Niagara-On-The-Lake is an area that is contained within the wine region, so if you are looking for a hotel near the Historic District of Niagara-On-The-Lake, choose a hotel carefully. The wine region itself is quite vast (because you know, farms do take up a lot of room) and stretches almost as far east as Stoney Creek.

If you're in the area to visit a vineyard or two (there are roughly 25 in the region) it's fairly easy to book a guided tour. Most of the wineries are open to the public and provide an inside look into the production of their product. You can even rent a bicycle and winery-hop to incorporate some cardio into your trip. However, go easy on the tasting because it's not safe to drink and ride (and you might get lost and end up in Hamilton...a terrible fate, I know).

Surrounding AreaA bit south of the Historic District will bring you to the Queenston area. The drive or bike ride along the Niagara Parkway from the Historic District alone is worth the visit. This scenic route provides awesome views across the water to New York on the east side and beautiful homes overlooking the lake on the west side. If possible, make friends with these homeowners and offer to house-sit while they're away on vacation! Queenston Heights Park is a really beautiful area that has a lookout point across Lake Ontario. Also, if you keep heading south (about a 30 minute drive from Niagara-On-The-Lake) you'll hit the world-famous tourist area of Niagara Falls.